Shopping centre parking lot shines brighter using less energy after lighting upgrade
The Promenades du Parc is an open strip shopping centre serving the growing community of St-Hubert, Quebec for their everyday shopping needs. The complex was built in 1990 and covers 104,313 sq.ft., including ample customer parking for key tenants such as IGA, National Bank of Canada and Pharmaprix.
First Capital Realty operates the facility, and in early 2018 identified an opportunity to save energy and improve the overall aesthetics of the shopping centre by upgrading the parking lot lighting to LED technology. They turned to the lighting experts at Concept Illumination.
“We chose to work with Concept Illumination because of their overall approach with projects such as this,” said Ginette Longpré, Senior Property Manager with First Capital Realty. “We have worked with the company before and know that they take all factors into consideration before proposing the best suited lighting solution, including the surrounding environment, performance needs, budget and timeline.”
Prior to the lighting upgrade, the Promenades du Parc lot featured a mix of floodlights and other pole-mounted fixtures, all of which were 400W metal halides. Concept Illumination proposed 200W LED area lights to replace all 39 fixtures, standardizing the property’s lighting aesthetic. By choosing a fixture that directs light downward, brightness and uniformity have been dramatically improved across the lot. This project was also an opportunity to install 8 – 150W FL03 flood lights to illuminate the IGA supermarket façade.
The installation was completed in one day, resulting in minimal disruption to the tenants and their customers. Preparation was key – planning ahead and arriving on site with the proper mounting hardware and adaptors allowed for a smooth, fast installation from start to finish.
The upgrade has resulted in several benefits for First Capital Realty. The company anticipates significantly reduced maintenance costs due to the long life and durability of the new LED fixture. The new lighting has also enhanced the aesthetics of the plaza and has improved visibility, making a visit more welcoming and safer in the evenings. Finally, the neighbouring residences have benefited from a well-planned lighting upgrade, as light trespass onto nearby homes has been eliminated – an advantage of using directional LED fixtures that are focused where the light is needed.
First Capital Realty’s original objective, though, was to lower energy bills, and they anticipate significant reductions in this area. Concept Illumination estimates the savings will be approximately 57,000 kWh annually – a 55% reduction for the complex.
